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+------- Thread: Jude Akabueze (/thread-838931.html)
Jude Akabueze - UABfan1 - 01-02-2018 01:22 AM
I wanted to start a thread for Jude because he seems to be in line for significant minutes as a freshman next year. It seems like we are going to need 20+ minutes per game out of him right away.
I started searching to find some stats this year.
The first article that came up kind of put him in a better light than was reasonable but it sure makes him sound good.
"The Golden Tornado strategy paid off for 3 quarters. What was the strategy? To play physical and get 6′9 Jude Akabueze into early foul trouble. Last year the North Marion Huskies center averaged 18.9 points per game while pulling down 17.6 rebounds per game. After receiving offers from West Virginia, Baylor, Virginia Tech and others, one month ago Jude Akabueze signed his National Letter of Intent to play basketball for the UAB Blazers."
I do NOT believe he had firm offers from all those schools but he still sounds like a good signee for us.
He is a recent game...
"Dec 29, 2017
FAIRMONT — Any time you take on North Marion, you have to accept the fact that Jude Akabuze is going to get his. Akabueze, a 6-foot-9 junior, did just that, leading the Huskies (4-3) with 28 points and 24 rebounds,..."
I hope to update this post later with some of his stats/highlights for this year if I can find them.
RE: Jude Akabueze - UABfan1 - 01-02-2018 01:47 AM
From 12/23.... "North Marion (4-2), which was undefeated prior to the tournament, got 34 points from 6-foot-9 center Jude Akabueze"
Unclear on the date for this one.."Jude Akabueze tossed in 22 points to lead the Huskies (4-1).."
From 12/22 I think.. " Akabueze, a 6-foot-9 junior center, tossed in 25 points, grabbed 20 rebounds and blocked five shots to lead North Marion"
From 12/20...Akabueze finished with 27 points, 19 rebounds and six blocked shots, but the big man’s late free throws came at the most important of times."
I also found an article from rivals on 11/19 that ranked our class as #8 among mid majors.
(ODU was #6)
https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/ranking-the-10-best-mid-major-classes-of-the-2018-early-period
RE: Jude Akabueze - BlazinBham - 01-02-2018 04:27 AM
I hope we find a transfer big or JUCO big that can at least put the ball on the floor and pivot. Somebody that can take attention off of Jude, back down a defender in the post and not get forced out of position. Cokley didn’t have that his whole career here.
RE: Jude Akabueze - hooverblazer - 01-02-2018 09:32 AM
Is Jude's game similar to Cokely? Are we expecting/needing him to make a similar impact as Scootie as a freshman?
RE: Jude Akabueze - UABslant - 01-02-2018 10:12 AM
From what I've read and the limited video I've seen, Jude is simply the biggest guy on the court in his high school games. BUT, I've seen plenty of HS bigs that can't shoot, can't box out without fouling, and are in poor position to get rebounds... to get as many points and rebounds as Jude does, the guy HAS to have talent and be coachable.
I'd be interested to see what he does against AAU competition.
RE: Jude Akabueze - UABfan1 - 01-02-2018 10:54 AM
(01-02-2018 04:27 AM)BlazinBham Wrote: I hope we find a transfer big or JUCO big that can at least put the ball on the floor and pivot. Somebody that can take attention off of Jude, back down a defender in the post and not get forced out of position. Cokley didn’t have that his whole career here.
I think Sullivans game will improve a bunch once Coke & Lee are gone.
I figure he is good for 30 minutes assuming he learns to play without fouling.
That leaves 50 minutes at the 4/5. Figure 20 for Jude just because of his size, at least 10 for Gueye (at the 4 or 5). Thats 20 minutes left for the skinny freshman and whatever juco big we can get.
I think we need to sign the best big we can get and not just someone 6-10+ or 250+ pounds.
An undersized guy that can play is worth 3 bigger guys who cant.
As far as scholarships available, Id bet McCoy wont be on scholarship next year. There is at least a reasonable chance Smallwood wont either...as a player.
Lavender almost certainly wont return either. So Id like to see us sign 2 Juco Bigs. Even if one of them is only 6-5 or 6-6 but plays much bigger. Those guys are easier to get and they should be able to compete in cusa.
Or we could pick up a transfer big instead of 2 juco bigs. I mean the kind who has to sit a year. But, we might be interested in a 5th year big too. In fact, that might be a better option than Juco. But we have to have some back up guys because you cant count on a 5th year transfer.
Losing Sullivan to grad transfer would be terrible and I hope that doesn't happen.
As for other transfers, you have to think Hurtado might. Just in case they determine he is too far away from contributing. Im not trying to force anyone out but D1 basketball is for big boys.
And Im almost afraid to bring it up but I sure hope our best freshman doesn't decide to move up the food chain. He will almost certainly have interest. Legal or otherwise.
Hopefully, he would rather not sit out a year and sticks with UAB.
RE: Jude Akabueze - blazers9911 - 01-02-2018 12:09 PM
I’d be shocked if Sullivan went anywhere, it wouldn’t make a ton of sense.
I’d be irritated if we took smallwood off of scholarship, he isn’t the best player in the world, but he loves UAB and seems like a great teammate.
I hope Hurtado doesn’t go anywhere. I still have high hopes for him.
This will be Scootie’s Team the next three years. Hopefully he knows that and isn’t looking to play anywhere else.
I don’t see Lavender staying, and i sure don’t see MCCoy on schcolarship again.
RE: Jude Akabueze - BlazerGold09 - 01-02-2018 12:46 PM
(01-02-2018 12:09 PM)blazers9911 Wrote: I’d be shocked if Sullivan went anywhere, it wouldn’t make a ton of sense.
I’d be irritated if we took smallwood off of scholarship, he isn’t the best player in the world, but he loves UAB and seems like a great teammate.
I hope Hurtado doesn’t go anywhere. I still have high hopes for him.
This will be Scootie’s Team the next three years. Hopefully he knows that and isn’t looking to play anywhere else.
I don’t see Lavender staying, and i sure don’t see MCCoy on schcolarship again.
Lavender is 100% leaving after the season.
Hurtado was redshirted and isn't going anywhere.
Sullivan isn't going anywhere.
Like you said this is Scootie's team going forward. I'd expect this starting 5 next season:
Norton
Bryant
Gueye
Sullivan
Darling
Off the bench: Boyce, Jude, etc., etc.
Currently they are trying to fill two spots for next season. Obviously a juco big is the high priority. A grad transfer is possible too.
RE: Jude Akabueze - Jball - 01-02-2018 01:34 PM
(01-02-2018 12:46 PM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:(01-02-2018 12:09 PM)blazers9911 Wrote: I’d be shocked if Sullivan went anywhere, it wouldn’t make a ton of sense.
I’d be irritated if we took smallwood off of scholarship, he isn’t the best player in the world, but he loves UAB and seems like a great teammate.
I hope Hurtado doesn’t go anywhere. I still have high hopes for him.
This will be Scootie’s Team the next three years. Hopefully he knows that and isn’t looking to play anywhere else.
I don’t see Lavender staying, and i sure don’t see MCCoy on schcolarship again.
Lavender is 100% leaving after the season.
Hurtado was redshirted and isn't going anywhere.
Sullivan isn't going anywhere.
Like you said this is Scootie's team going forward. I'd expect this starting 5 next season:
Norton
Bryant
Gueye
Sullivan
Darling
Off the bench: Boyce, Jude, etc., etc.
Currently they are trying to fill two spots for next season. Obviously a juco big is the high priority. A grad transfer is possible too.
Any word on Pearson?
RE: Jude Akabueze - hooverblazer - 01-02-2018 01:42 PM
(01-02-2018 12:46 PM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:(01-02-2018 12:09 PM)blazers9911 Wrote: I’d be shocked if Sullivan went anywhere, it wouldn’t make a ton of sense.
I’d be irritated if we took smallwood off of scholarship, he isn’t the best player in the world, but he loves UAB and seems like a great teammate.
I hope Hurtado doesn’t go anywhere. I still have high hopes for him.
This will be Scootie’s Team the next three years. Hopefully he knows that and isn’t looking to play anywhere else.
I don’t see Lavender staying, and i sure don’t see MCCoy on schcolarship again.
Lavender is 100% leaving after the season.
Hurtado was redshirted and isn't going anywhere.
Sullivan isn't going anywhere.
Like you said this is Scootie's team going forward. I'd expect this starting 5 next season:
Norton
Bryant
Gueye
Sullivan
Darling
Off the bench: Boyce, Jude, etc., etc.
Currently they are trying to fill two spots for next season. Obviously a juco big is the high priority. A grad transfer is possible too.
I hope this JUCO big to be named later is a starter next year and not Gueye. Based on what I've seen, he isn't anywhere near ready for that.
RE: Jude Akabueze - Memphis Blazer - 01-02-2018 01:43 PM
I think Boyce will be starting at least by conference season if not sooner. He is on one of the top HS teams in the country, and playing well against some of the top HS and AAU teams in the country. CUSA competition may be a drop off in competition for him.
RE: Jude Akabueze - BlazerGold09 - 01-02-2018 01:47 PM
(01-02-2018 01:34 PM)Jball Wrote:(01-02-2018 12:46 PM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:(01-02-2018 12:09 PM)blazers9911 Wrote: I’d be shocked if Sullivan went anywhere, it wouldn’t make a ton of sense.
I’d be irritated if we took smallwood off of scholarship, he isn’t the best player in the world, but he loves UAB and seems like a great teammate.
I hope Hurtado doesn’t go anywhere. I still have high hopes for him.
This will be Scootie’s Team the next three years. Hopefully he knows that and isn’t looking to play anywhere else.
I don’t see Lavender staying, and i sure don’t see MCCoy on schcolarship again.
Lavender is 100% leaving after the season.
Hurtado was redshirted and isn't going anywhere.
Sullivan isn't going anywhere.
Like you said this is Scootie's team going forward. I'd expect this starting 5 next season:
Norton
Bryant
Gueye
Sullivan
Darling
Off the bench: Boyce, Jude, etc., etc.
Currently they are trying to fill two spots for next season. Obviously a juco big is the high priority. A grad transfer is possible too.
Any word on Pearson?
Nope. He may very well find his way in to the mix but I haven't seen enough of him.
RE: Jude Akabueze - BlazerGold09 - 01-02-2018 01:48 PM
(01-02-2018 01:43 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote: I think Boyce will be starting at least by conference season if not sooner. He is on one of the top HS teams in the country, and playing well against some of the top HS and AAU teams in the country. CUSA competition may be a drop off in competition for him.
Absolutely agree. He's the real deal.
RE: Jude Akabueze - Jball - 01-02-2018 01:55 PM
(01-02-2018 01:47 PM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:(01-02-2018 01:34 PM)Jball Wrote:(01-02-2018 12:46 PM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:(01-02-2018 12:09 PM)blazers9911 Wrote: I’d be shocked if Sullivan went anywhere, it wouldn’t make a ton of sense.
I’d be irritated if we took smallwood off of scholarship, he isn’t the best player in the world, but he loves UAB and seems like a great teammate.
I hope Hurtado doesn’t go anywhere. I still have high hopes for him.
This will be Scootie’s Team the next three years. Hopefully he knows that and isn’t looking to play anywhere else.
I don’t see Lavender staying, and i sure don’t see MCCoy on schcolarship again.
Lavender is 100% leaving after the season.
Hurtado was redshirted and isn't going anywhere.
Sullivan isn't going anywhere.
Like you said this is Scootie's team going forward. I'd expect this starting 5 next season:
Norton
Bryant
Gueye
Sullivan
Darling
Off the bench: Boyce, Jude, etc., etc.
Currently they are trying to fill two spots for next season. Obviously a juco big is the high priority. A grad transfer is possible too.
Any word on Pearson?
Nope. He may very well find his way in to the mix but I haven't seen enough of him.
Sorry, I meant his eye injury. Think I read he has had two surgeries
RE: Jude Akabueze - Big Dee - 01-02-2018 01:59 PM
(01-02-2018 12:46 PM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:(01-02-2018 12:09 PM)blazers9911 Wrote: I’d be shocked if Sullivan went anywhere, it wouldn’t make a ton of sense.
I’d be irritated if we took smallwood off of scholarship, he isn’t the best player in the world, but he loves UAB and seems like a great teammate.
I hope Hurtado doesn’t go anywhere. I still have high hopes for him.
This will be Scootie’s Team the next three years. Hopefully he knows that and isn’t looking to play anywhere else.
I don’t see Lavender staying, and i sure don’t see MCCoy on schcolarship again.
Lavender is 100% leaving after the season.
Hurtado was redshirted and isn't going anywhere.
Sullivan isn't going anywhere.
Like you said this is Scootie's team going forward. I'd expect this starting 5 next season:
Norton
Bryant
Gueye
Sullivan
Darling
Off the bench: Boyce, Jude, etc., etc.
Currently they are trying to fill two spots for next season. Obviously a juco big is the high priority. A grad transfer is possible too.
Deion is leaving?
Jude shouldn't get that many minutes.
Gueye shouldn't play the five.
Go get Nick Marshall and Kentrevious Jones let them battle for the 5 spot.
No way in h*** we should sign any big 6-7 or shorter
Boyce probably starts day one.
RE: Jude Akabueze - Memphis Blazer - 01-02-2018 02:07 PM
(01-02-2018 01:48 PM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:I'm hoping to see him in person this weekend at the National Hoopfest in Memphis. They play Simeon out of Chicago, which I believe is a top HS team as well.(01-02-2018 01:43 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote: I think Boyce will be starting at least by conference season if not sooner. He is on one of the top HS teams in the country, and playing well against some of the top HS and AAU teams in the country. CUSA competition may be a drop off in competition for him.
Absolutely agree. He's the real deal.
RE: Jude Akabueze - UABfan1 - 01-02-2018 02:18 PM
(01-02-2018 01:42 PM)hooverblazer Wrote:(01-02-2018 12:46 PM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:(01-02-2018 12:09 PM)blazers9911 Wrote: I’d be shocked if Sullivan went anywhere, it wouldn’t make a ton of sense.
I’d be irritated if we took smallwood off of scholarship, he isn’t the best player in the world, but he loves UAB and seems like a great teammate.
I hope Hurtado doesn’t go anywhere. I still have high hopes for him.
This will be Scootie’s Team the next three years. Hopefully he knows that and isn’t looking to play anywhere else.
I don’t see Lavender staying, and i sure don’t see MCCoy on schcolarship again.
Lavender is 100% leaving after the season.
Hurtado was redshirted and isn't going anywhere.
Sullivan isn't going anywhere.
Like you said this is Scootie's team going forward. I'd expect this starting 5 next season:
Norton
Bryant
Gueye
Sullivan
Darling
Off the bench: Boyce, Jude, etc., etc.
Currently they are trying to fill two spots for next season. Obviously a juco big is the high priority. A grad transfer is possible too.
I hope this JUCO big to be named later is a starter next year and not Gueye. Based on what I've seen, he isn't anywhere near ready for that.
I agree but if Gueye can work hard over the summer and put on 15+ pounds, maybe he is ready for more than spot minutes at the 4/5.
We made the NCAA with starting 4s at 6-5 and 6-6. Ball & Eddins against MUCH better conference teams. So we don't have to have 2 bruisers down low. But, either way, I think we are looking at a down year next year. Nearly impossible to replace Cokes production. Unless we happen across a guy like the new guy at MTSU. His name escapes me right now. Odds of that are very slim. But wait, he is only 6-7. Little Dee wouldn't take him because he is too short. LOL
Poor guy hasn't watched much basketball in his life.
RE: Jude Akabueze - hooverblazer - 01-02-2018 02:19 PM
Boyce may take Darling's starting spot. Maybe not right away, but as the season goes.
RE: Jude Akabueze - blazers9911 - 01-02-2018 02:25 PM
I don’t think we are looking at a down year next year. We will have a lot of productive players returning, and some nice pieces coming in. I think we are a player or two away from being a real contender next year. No one person is going to replace Cokley, but i think we can make up for that loss with improvements in five or six of the guys currently on the roster.
RE: Jude Akabueze - UABfan1 - 01-02-2018 02:26 PM
(01-02-2018 12:09 PM)blazers9911 Wrote: I’d be shocked if Sullivan went anywhere, it wouldn’t make a ton of sense.
I’d be irritated if we took smallwood off of scholarship, he isn’t the best player in the world, but he loves UAB and seems like a great teammate.
I hope Hurtado doesn’t go anywhere. I still have high hopes for him.
This will be Scootie’s Team the next three years. Hopefully he knows that and isn’t looking to play anywhere else.
I don’t see Lavender staying, and i sure don’t see MCCoy on schcolarship again.
We don't have to take him off scholarship. But if he isn't going to play as he hasn't for the last 3.3 years, its incredibly stupid to waste another years basketball scholarship on him. You can make him a manager and keep him on scholarship if you want. But he has already graduated. Its unlikely he will play. Do we owe the guy his doctors degree?
The only difference is if he was a manager, he couldn't play the mop up minutes.
I bet he'd like it at Montevallo, he would play a lot more.